The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation #1: The Pox Party by M. T. Anderson
If you’re an adult reader who hasn’t yet discovered the joy of young adult fiction, you’re in for a treat! YA novels are all the rage among librarians and other savvy readers who appreciate compelling, creative, well- written, and emotionally resonant stories. Anderson’s book meets all of these criteria and then some. Ambitious, complicated, and chilling, it’s a tale of slavery set in Boston on the eve of the Revolutionary War. Octavian is a little black boy who lives in a household of eccentric scientists. Though others of his race are raised as slaves, Octavian is given a classical education as part of a somewhat dubious experiment. Because the story is mostly related through his journals, Anderson has created a unique perspective: a slave who can write about his plight in relation to ancient history, whose speech is more scholarly than colloquial, and who expresses his rage by mournfully playing his beloved violin.
Though Octavian is raised as a quasi-prince, misfortunes eventually cause him to experience the more typical life of an 18th century slave; because he has a better life with which to compare, his sense of injustice is even more pronounced and heartbreaking. This isn’t always the easiest book to read; the language is sophisticated, the subject matter serious, and at 350+ pages, it’s a bit of a time commitment. But don’t be daunted — this book is well worth the effort, especially if you have a strong interest in American history. If you’re a Revolutionary War buff, you’ll especially enjoy the second installment of the series (The Kingdom on the Waves, available at Potsdam Public Library), which focuses more specifically on combat.
Beth Andrews, July 2012